Discussion Paper for the Development of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan
Introduction
Up to National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan
The Australian Government will be working and consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals as Australia’s First Peoples in the development of the Health Plan. It recognises the resilience, perseverance and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and cultures that have endured a history of dispossession and disempowerment.
The Australian Government is continuing its commitment to partner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to support improvements in health outcomes and other determinants of health.
This commitment is demonstrated in a number of ways, such as its increased investment in Indigenous health through initiatives like the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Health Outcomes, and a leading role in the Council of Australian Government’s efforts to close the gap in outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Government was an early signatory to the Close the Gap Statement of Intent, which acknowledges the importance of addressing inequalities in health outcomes if sustainable improvements to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ outcomes are to be achieved. As part of its fulfilment to this commitment, the Australian Government is developing this National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan.
The Australian Government acknowledges that improving opportunities and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people requires sustained effort from all levels of government, as well as the private and not-for-profit sectors, communities and individuals.
The Plan will draw from the national and international evidence base about what would make the most impact on Indigenous Australians’ health outcomes. This will include learning from evaluations of past programs and analysing the impact of current initiatives to understand where effort should be directed.
The Australian Government will be working and consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, communities and groups, health service providers, education providers, employment organisations and State, Territory and Local Governments, to make sure the Health Plan meets the varied needs of Indigenous Australians of all ages and from diverse backgrounds and locations. A series of nationwide community consultations will be held as well as an opportunity for all stakeholders to provide written submissions. These consultations and the submissions process will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to identify the areas of most importance to their health, and for the Plan to build on Indigenous peoples’ strengths and resilience.